Transportation enables trade, defense, communication, and resource access. This campaign covers road construction, bridges, animal transport, wheeled vehicles, watercraft, and route planning for civilization-scale logistics.
Chapter 1: Road Construction
Road Type
Surface
Load Capacity
Speed
Build Rate
Lifespan
Cost
Cleared trail
Packed earth
Foot/pack animal
2-3 mph
1-2 miles/day
1-2 years
Very low
Graded road
Gravel/earth
Light wagon
3-5 mph
0.5-1 mile/day
3-5 years
Low
Corduroy road
Log surface
Heavy wagon (wet ground)
2-3 mph
200-500 ft/day
2-5 years
Moderate
Macadam road
Layered crushed stone
Heavy wagon
5-8 mph
100-300 ft/day
10-20 years
High
Roman-style road
Stone pavement
Unlimited
5-10 mph
50-100 ft/day
Centuries
Very high
Plank road
Sawn planks
Heavy wagon
4-6 mph
200-500 ft/day
5-10 years
Moderate-high
Macadam road construction: 1) Survey and grade route (1-3% crown for drainage). 2) Dig roadbed 12-18 inches deep, 12-20 feet wide. 3) Drainage ditches on both sides. 4) Bottom layer: large stones (3-4 inch) hand-placed, 6 inches deep. 5) Middle layer: medium stones (2 inch), 4 inches deep. 6) Top layer: fine crushed stone/gravel (0.5 inch), 2 inches deep. 7) Roll/compact each layer (heavy roller or traffic). 8) Water and compact top layer until it binds. 9) Crown shape sheds water to ditches.
Chapter 2: Animal Transport
Animal
Load (pack)
Load (pull)
Speed
Range/Day
Terrain
Feed Needs
Horse
150-200 lbs
1,500-2,000 lbs
4-8 mph
20-35 miles
Roads, trails
Grain + hay (20 lbs/day)
Mule
200-300 lbs
1,200-1,500 lbs
3-5 mph
20-30 miles
Mountain, rough
Grain + hay (15 lbs/day)
Donkey
100-150 lbs
600-800 lbs
2-4 mph
15-25 miles
Mountain, arid
Hay/browse (10 lbs/day)
Ox (pair)
N/A
2,000-4,000 lbs
2-3 mph
10-15 miles
Any terrain
Grass/hay (40 lbs/pair/day)
Llama
60-80 lbs
N/A
2-3 mph
10-15 miles
Mountain
Browse/grass (5 lbs/day)
Dog (sled/cart)
20-40 lbs
50-100 lbs
3-6 mph
10-20 miles
Snow, flat
Meat/fish (2-3 lbs/day)
Camel
300-500 lbs
1,000-1,500 lbs
3-5 mph
25-40 miles
Desert, flat
Browse (10 lbs/day)
Ox vs. horse comparison: Oxen are slower but stronger, cheaper to feed (grass only), easier to train, more docile, and provide meat/leather at end of working life. Horses are faster, more versatile, but require grain (expensive), more training, and more veterinary care. For heavy agricultural and construction work, oxen are superior. For speed, communication, and military use, horses are essential.
Chapter 3: Wheeled Vehicles
Vehicle
Wheels
Load
Speed
Road Required
Build Complexity
Primary Use
Wheelbarrow
1
200-400 lbs
Walking
Path
Low
Construction, farm
Hand cart
2
300-600 lbs
Walking
Trail
Low
Local transport
Farm wagon
4
2,000-4,000 lbs
3-5 mph
Graded road
High
Agriculture, hauling
Spring wagon
4
1,000-2,000 lbs
5-8 mph
Good road
Very high
Passenger, light freight
Travois (no wheel)
0
200-300 lbs
Walking-trot
None
Very low
Any terrain
Sled/sledge
0 (runners)
500-2,000 lbs
Variable
Snow/ice/mud
Low-moderate
Winter, wet ground
Wheel construction (spoked): 1) Hub: turn from hardwood (elm/oak), bore center for axle, mortise spoke holes. 2) Spokes: split and shape from oak/hickory (12-14 per wheel). 3) Felloes: steam-bend or saw curved rim sections (6-8 pieces). 4) Assemble: drive spokes into hub, fit felloes around spoke ends. 5) Iron tire: heat iron band, fit over wheel (shrinks tight on cooling). 6) Dish the wheel slightly (cone shape) for strength and tracking. 7) Axle: iron or hardwood, with iron bearing surfaces.
Chapter 4: Watercraft
Vessel
Capacity
Build Time
Materials
Waters
Speed
Difficulty
Log raft
500-2,000 lbs
1-3 days
Logs, rope
Rivers (downstream)
Current speed
Very low
Dugout canoe
200-500 lbs
1-4 weeks
Large log, fire, tools
Rivers, calm water
3-5 mph
Moderate
Bark canoe
300-600 lbs
1-2 weeks
Birch bark, cedar, spruce root
Rivers, lakes
4-6 mph
High
Coracle
200-300 lbs
2-5 days
Willow frame, hide/tar cloth
Rivers, calm water
2-4 mph
Low-moderate
Flat-bottom boat
1,000-3,000 lbs
2-4 weeks
Sawn planks, nails
Rivers, lakes
3-5 mph
Moderate
Sailing dinghy
500-1,000 lbs
4-8 weeks
Planks, canvas, hardware
Lakes, coastal
5-10 mph
High
Chapter 5: Route Planning
Factor
Consideration
Impact
Mitigation
Grade/slope
Max 5% for wagons, 8% for pack
Speed, load capacity
Switchbacks, grading
Water crossings
Bridges, fords, ferries needed
Cost, seasonal access
Ford at wide/shallow points
Drainage
Wet roads become impassable
Seasonal reliability
Crown, ditches, culverts
Soil type
Clay = mud; sand = soft; gravel = ideal
Surface durability
Import gravel, corduroy
Distance between water
Animals need water every 10-15 miles
Route selection
Follow waterways
Security
Exposed routes vulnerable
Safety
Avoid defiles, maintain sight lines
Maintenance
All roads degrade without upkeep
Long-term viability
Assign road crews
Reference Card
Drainage makes roads (a dry road is a good road — crown, ditches, and culverts matter more than surface material). 2. Oxen for heavy, horses for fast (match animal to task — don't waste horses on plowing). 3. Wheels need roads (invest in road before investing in wagons). 4. Water is the cheapest highway (one boat moves what 20 wagons carry — use rivers when possible). 5. Grade kills loads (5% slope halves pulling capacity — switchbacks save animals). 6. Iron tires last (wooden wheels without iron bands wear out in weeks on gravel). 7. Maintain or lose (one season without maintenance = road failure; assign permanent crews). 8. Plan for water (route must cross water sources every 10-15 miles for animals).
